4 ms·

There shouldn't be anything inherently dangerous about them, a car shouldn't be getting that close to the back of a bicycle really. I've seen some that have a t

by cjrp 5y ago

There shouldn't be anything inherently dangerous about them, a car shouldn't be getting that close to the back of a bicycle really. I've seen some that have a tall flag-like thing, I guess that's to help show that there's something behind the bicycle

omnicognate 5y ago
Shouldn't doesn't mean doesn't. Seems to me that common sense suggests they're pretty dangerous to use in traffic, but I'm not claiming that is actually the case. I'm just wondering what the stats are - the only real way to know. For context, I live in a major city. I've seen people pulling these things round busy multi-lane roundabouts and the like.
- bckr 5y ago
  Many people seem really careless with their children on the road. Another example is walking out into a crosswalk with a stroller without looking both ways. Yes, it's my responsibility to slow down. But for god's sake don't assume I'm going to!
  - jacquesm 5y ago
    Those aren't strollers they are traffic testers.
- r0m4n0 5y ago
  Agreed... I was thinking about this other day with my 4 month old. We were looking at four or so houses to purchase with a real estate agent. We were having to load her in and out of her car seat in the car repeatedly which is not fun (she cries when you set her in the thing). One of the houses was 1/2 a mile or so away and it crossed my mind that I could just hold her in the back seat while we coast through a few intersections. I then pictured the outcome of a minor accident and decided that it was worth the additional effort to ensure that my kid wouldn't be ejected. Everything we do is a risk calculation and some people have decided that the risk is worth the convenience or cost. I suppose my thought was illegal while toting your child around in a bike trailer isn't so there is that factor too... Those kid trailers seem very dangerous, I ride my bike in cities all the time (NYC and SF) and get very close to reckless drivers. I have to imagine being a passenger in a bike trailer, in a city, is quite a risk
- tokai 5y ago
  The most common accident from biking is falling. Much of the danger of falls are removed for a child in a proper bike trailer. With a flag and reflectors helping visibility my intuition tells me that it is much safer for children in trailers. Safer than riding their own bike or with a child seat on the adults bike.
yupper32 5y ago
Most people I know who regularly bike in SF (for commuting at least), have been hit by a car in some capacity. I have no idea why parents use those bike with the kids in the back. Why not just use a car? It's not even like those bikes are particularly cheap. The ones I see sell for thousands of dollars.
mdoms 5y ago
It must feel very gratifying to be able to say, "hey, you shouldn't have done that" after a driver crushes your child into a paste. Never rely on what drivers "should" or "shouldn't" do.
- cjrp 5y ago
  As a motorcyclist, I'm well versed in not relying on drivers. SMIDSY all day. My point is that it should be safe; if it isn't, something is wrong with the system.

by cjrp 5y ago

omnicognate 5y ago

Shouldn't doesn't mean doesn't. Seems to me that common sense suggests they're pretty dangerous to use in traffic, but I'm not claiming that is actually the case. I'm just wondering what the stats are - the only real way to know. For context, I live in a major city. I've seen people pulling these things round busy multi-lane roundabouts and the like.

bckr 5y ago
Many people seem really careless with their children on the road. Another example is walking out into a crosswalk with a stroller without looking both ways. Yes, it's my responsibility to slow down. But for god's sake don't assume I'm going to!
- jacquesm 5y ago
  Those aren't strollers they are traffic testers.
r0m4n0 5y ago
Agreed... I was thinking about this other day with my 4 month old. We were looking at four or so houses to purchase with a real estate agent. We were having to load her in and out of her car seat in the car repeatedly which is not fun (she cries when you set her in the thing). One of the houses was 1/2 a mile or so away and it crossed my mind that I could just hold her in the back seat while we coast through a few intersections. I then pictured the outcome of a minor accident and decided that it was worth the additional effort to ensure that my kid wouldn't be ejected. Everything we do is a risk calculation and some people have decided that the risk is worth the convenience or cost. I suppose my thought was illegal while toting your child around in a bike trailer isn't so there is that factor too... Those kid trailers seem very dangerous, I ride my bike in cities all the time (NYC and SF) and get very close to reckless drivers. I have to imagine being a passenger in a bike trailer, in a city, is quite a risk
tokai 5y ago
The most common accident from biking is falling. Much of the danger of falls are removed for a child in a proper bike trailer. With a flag and reflectors helping visibility my intuition tells me that it is much safer for children in trailers. Safer than riding their own bike or with a child seat on the adults bike.

yupper32 5y ago

Most people I know who regularly bike in SF (for commuting at least), have been hit by a car in some capacity. I have no idea why parents use those bike with the kids in the back. Why not just use a car? It's not even like those bikes are particularly cheap. The ones I see sell for thousands of dollars.

mdoms 5y ago

It must feel very gratifying to be able to say, "hey, you shouldn't have done that" after a driver crushes your child into a paste. Never rely on what drivers "should" or "shouldn't" do.

cjrp 5y ago
As a motorcyclist, I'm well versed in not relying on drivers. SMIDSY all day. My point is that it should be safe; if it isn't, something is wrong with the system.